Snowclones

11

Jan

2012

By Christine Lovatt

Did you know that an expression like sixty is the new thirty has a name? It’s called a snowclone, which is a type of cliché that uses an old idiom in a new context – the key words change and you have a new expression with a familiar rhythm. Sixty is the new thirty was Lauren Hutton’s catchcry when she turned 60 and looked considerably younger.

An early snowclone was pink is the new black, first used in 1962 by Diana Vreeland. She found pink fabric was more popular in India than the ubiquitous black favoured elsewhere. This phrase has been used in countless contexts, with different key words.

Star Wars has given us May the Force be With You which has many versions, eg the song, May the Horse be with you or May the 4th be with you, etc.

The name snowclone was coined with reference to the belief that there are over 200 Eskimo words for snow. People became fascinated with the idea that snow appeared differently to those who saw it every day.

But it’s not quite so straightforward. Firstly, there are not one but five different Eskimo languages. The best-known is Inuit, spoken in a series of dialects. So that accounts for several different words.

Secondly, what do you define as a snow word? In our language we have snowball, snowflake, snowdrop, snowfall, snowfield and snowman – combining prefixes or suffixes to make compound words.

In Eskimo-Aleut languages, words are formed by combining roots and affixes so that the number of words for snow is practically limitless, at least in theory.

Snowclones are phrases that are fun to make up and have been described as multi-use, instantly recognisable, time-worn phrases that can be recycled in any flavour. However, journalists and writers have also been accused of being lazy when they overuse them, or avoid ever inventing original phrases.

I’m sure you’ve heard the snowclones Old magicians don’t die, they just disappear or Old fishermen never die, they just smell that way.

Other snowclones include Have Passport – Will Travel, which comes from the TV western title 'Have Gun – Will Travel', and If I had a Pound for every time I’ve heard Another Version of this Snowclone, I’d be a Lot Better Off.

Here’s your mission, should you choose to accept it – make up a new snowclone from an existing catchphrase and post it in the Comments section for this blog. The first 25 entrants will receive a copy of my latest Cryptic Crossword Collection!

Then there was the Yamaha executive visiting France and drinking absinthe.
After several days, he noticed that the sound of his "wind emissions" was changing, and were sounding like another breed of motorbike.
He consulted a doctor who advised him to change drinks:
Absinthe makes the farts go Honda".

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